- Planning a Fourth of July party this year could be socially awkward, especially if you’re unsure of the vaccination status of your guests.
- If you’re worried about asking whether an invitee is vaccinated, try building up to it by being open about why you’re asking.
- If there will be unvaccinated adults at the gathering, the risk of transmission will mostly be for those who are unvaccinated.
The United States isn’t going to meet President Joe Biden’s goal of vaccinating 70 percent of Americans by July 4, but that doesn’t mean there’s no reason to celebrate.
Aside from the usual Independence Day reverie, many Americans vaccinated from COVID-19 can finally gather safely with their close friends and family after being apart for more than a year. More than 66 percent of all adults in the U.S. have at least been partially vaccinated.
“This is a small win and a small reward in a way for being vaccinated. It’s OK to gather and enjoy what we can,” said Dr. Diego Hijano, a pediatric infectious disease physician at the Infectious Diseases Department at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.
Still, planning Fourth of July parties this year could be socially awkward, especially if you’re unsure of the vaccination status of your guests.
“The etiquette around asking about vaccination status, it is an uncomfortable conversation. And I think it may be the best bet to be transparent and straightforward,” said Dr. Jeannie Kenkare, chief medical officer at PhysicianOne Urgent Care.
This concern is especially pressing when the delta variant of the coronavirus is spreading rapidly and proving more easily transmissible. Yet the risk is low if you’re vaccinated, which is all the more reason to be aware of inoculation status.
Kenkare and Hijano agree that it’s possible to gather safely for the holiday without the faux pas. Here’s how to do it.
Source: healthline